heath



s. P.-HEATH & T. BURR.

2 Sheets$heet 1..

CAR COUPLING.

(No Model.)

No. 476,239. Patented May 17, 1892.

2 SheetsSheet 2 S. P.HE ATH 8v T. BURR.

- (No Model.)

GAB. COUPLING.

Patented May 17, 1892..

WITNESSES a. 4 (f v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL P. HEATH, OF SAGINAW, AND THEODORE BURR, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN;SAID BURR ASSIGNOR TO SAID HEATH.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION fOrming' part of Letters Patent No. 475,239, dated May 17,1892.

Application filed November 23, 1891. Serial No. 412,785- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, SAMUEL P. HEATH, residing at Saginaw, in the countyof Saginaw, and THEODORE BURR, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne,State of Michigan,citizens of the United States, have invented a certainnew and useful Improvement in Oar-Couplers and we declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichform a part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the ends of adjacent cars,showing our improved coupler in position on the cars. Fig. 2 is aperspective of the end of the car and of the coupler. Fig. 3 is aperspective of the spring employed. Fig. 4 is a View showing one of ourcouplers employed with another well-known type, showing its adaptabilityto use with such forms of couplers. Fig. 5 is a a horizontal sectionshowing the spring and the manner of engaging it with the head. Fig. 6is a variation showing the use of a flat spring.

In the drawings, A A are the ends of adjacent cars. B B are draw-bars.These bars we prefer to make of cast-steel and hollow to provide arecess b in which to locate the spring 0. The draw-head D is slotted ormortised at d, and is pivoted to the bar B on the pin b Heretofore inconstructing the head it has been provided with a tongue or tenon toenter a slot or mortise in the draw-bar. This limited the size andstrength of the head at its pivotal point, and it was difficult to makeit of sufficient strength. By pivoting the head to the outside of thebar, we are able to make the portions of the head engaging with the barof any desired size and strength.

The bar B is provided with a side extension 5 on the side opposite thehead to form a buffer. The spring 0 is a double coil, having the freeends 0 o resting against the walls of the draw-bar and the looped end 0extending out from it and into the cavity d of the head and restingagainst its inner wall. The operation of thisspring is to force thepoint of the hook D toward the buffer b or against the inner side of thehook forming the drawhead on the opposite car, and unless forcedbackward the point of the hook will always lie on the same side of thecentral line of draft through the pin b as the buffer 17 On thedraw-head is a lug d to, which is pivoted the rod E, operated by thelever 6. This lever is notched at two places, in which the dog 6 engagesto hold it in two positions, one for holding the draw-head open and theother for holding it in its position for locking.

The draw-bar is provided with asuitable stop d to prevent the headswinging too far inward from the action of the spring 0.

The draw-head D is formed with an inclined portion (i so that when thecouplers on adjacent cars come together the drawheads meet on thisincline and are forced out and by each other and then looked together,as shown in Fig. 1. They are unlocked by drawing one draw-head back bymeans of the lever e and the rod E.

In Fig. 4 we show a plan view of the ends of adjacent cars, one fittedwith our improved coupler and the other with what is known as the Janneycoupler, the object being to show its adaptability to couple with thisclass of couplers. This figure also shows the distinction between theform employed by us and the other forms, in that our form of hookprovides for what we call a center draft that is, so shaping the hookthat the point of contact and draft between the opposite hooks is on aline with the pivot and not at right angles to the pivot, as in thecoupler shown in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 6 is shown a variation employing a fiat spring riveted to thewalls of the drawbar, instead of a coil-spring, as shown in Fig. 5.

WVhat we claim is 1. In a car-coupler, the combination of a draw-bar, ahooked head pivoted thereto, a side extension on said draw-bar, and aspring adapted to throw the point of said hook toward said sideextension and beyond the draft-line, the knuckle part of said hook beingdouble and adapted to receive the perforated end of the draw-bar'betweenthe two parts and the knuckle part also being formed 100 with a mortised, within which is received the forward end of said spring,substantially as and for the purpose described. 2. In a car-coupler, thecombination of a swinging spring-actuated hooked head,aho1- lowdraw-bar,and an actuatin g-sprin g in closed in and protected by said hollowdraw-bar, the knuckle part of said hook being double and adapted toreceive the end of the draw-bar between its two parts, substantially asand for the purpose specified.

3. In a car-coupler, the combination of aswinging springactuated hookedhead, a

swinging lever provided with ratchet-teeth, pivoted to the car-body, apawl also pivoted to the car-body and adapted to engage with saidratchet-teeth, and a link connection between said lever and saidcoupler-head, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof we sign this specifica- 20 tion in the presence oftwo witnesses.

SAMUEL P. HEATH. THEODORE BURR.

Witnesses; v

O. H. FIsK, MARION A. REEVE.

